Charon
Myths
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Mythology
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Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses for Kids - Charon
The myths and legends surrounding Charon, the ferryman
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Charon for kids
Discover the myths surrounding Charon, the ferryman whose duty was to ferry the souls of the dead across the River Styx and the River Acheron, his payment being the coin that had been placed in the mouth of the corpse before burial. The journey to the imaginary domain of the Hades the Underworld had to be travelled by all the souls of the dead, both good and bad. Charon was the son of the primordial gods Erebus (God of Darkness) and Nyx (Goddess of Night). Charon was depicted as a foul old man holding his ferryman's oar or pole. Additional facts and information about the mythology of individual gods and goddesses can be accessed via the following links:
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Charon the Ferryman
Picture of Charon
Who was Charon?
Charon was the ferryman and one of the extraordinary number of gods and goddesses worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. The legend and myth about Charon has been passed down through the ages and plays an important role in the history of the Ancient World and the study of the Greek classics. The name Charon means 'fierce brightness' in Greek, the Latin or Roman equivalent was Charun. The souls of the dead, both good and evil, were faced with the journey to Hades the Underworld across the River Styx on the boat of Charon, the Ferryman. Crossing the River Styx was the only route to the afterlife that offered either the wonders of the blissful Elysium and the Elysian Fields (Paradise) or eternal damnation and suffering in the bowels of Tartarus (Hell).
Depictions of CharonCharon was depicted as a squalid, rough, unkempt and bad tempered old man holding his ferryman's pole in his right hand and using his left hand to receive the terrified souls of the dead. He had haggard cheeks, a hooked nose, blue-grey skin, an unclean beard, uncombed hair wearing clothes that were foul with grease. His eyes were described as 'hollow furnaces on fire'. Charon is also depicted as a winged demon or a living skeleton in a cowl, similar to modern representations of the 'Grim Reaper'. His depictions were a terrible reminder of the fate that awaited the souls of the dead.
The Boat of CharonThe boat of Charon was described as ramshackle craft that creaked under the weight of Charon and his unhappy passengers and let in great swashes of muddy water through its leaky seams. Charon guides his craft with a long pole or an oar.
Facts about Charon
Charon features in the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks which are based on the idea that these supernatural beings resembled mortals but possessed great powers such as super human strength. The following information, facts and profile provides a fast overview of Charon:
Charon Profile & Fact File
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| Greek Name: | Charon |
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| Role & Function: | The function of Charon is described as being the ferryman or boatman of Hades the Underworld who ferried souls over the River Styx and the River Acheron |
| Status: | Treated with great respect by the gods |
| Symbols: | The oar or pole of a boatman, large, double-headed hammer, maul or mallet |
| Gender: | Male |
| Roman Counterpart: | Charun |
| Name of Wife: | Unmarried |
| Name of Father: | Erebus the ancient God of Darkness |
| Name of Mother: | Nyx the ancient Goddess of Night |
The Symbols of CharonEach ancient Greek god and goddess were associated with special symbols, animals and attributes. The Symbols of Charon helped the ancient Greeks instantly recognize the gods that were depicted in the pictures, mosaics, statues and images. The symbols of Charon and their meanings were as follows:
- The Oar or Pole of a boatman
- These symbols reflect his role of ferrying dead souls
- The double-headed hammer, maul or mallet
- The symbol of the maul represents an emblem of violent death
Charon (Roman Counterpart was Charun)
When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC, the Romans assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. Many of the Greek gods and goddesses, such as Charon, were therefore adopted by the Romans but were given Latin names. The Roman counterpart of Charon was Charun.
Charon and the RomansThe character of Charon was mimicked at various Roman ceremonies involving the dead - specifically at funerals and at gladiatorial games. At funeral ceremonies slaves or servants attended the funeral dressed as Pluto or Charon the Ferryman who were revered as the Roman gods of the dead. This ritual was later transferred to the Roman Colosseum and other gladiatorial arenas when dead gladiators were ritually led from the arena by a figure depicting Charon. The 'Charon' of the arena also had another duty. Gladiators who had been sentenced to death fighting in the arena (called the noxii) who were not treated with honor, like other gladiators. The noxii would receive a fatal blow to the head with a massive double headed hammer inflicted by a man dressed like Charon. Their bodies would then be dragged from the arena, sometimes by hooks in their heels, to make the chore easier. Their dead bodies were dragged through the Gate of Death called the Porta Libitinensis, the name for which derives from Libitina who was the goddess of funerals.
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The Destination of Charon and the Souls of the DeadThe destination of Charon the Ferryman was Hades the Underworld. The realm of the dead was guarded by Cerberus the grotesque three-headed dog whose howls could be heard across the dark domain. Cerberus permitted all shades to enter, but none to return. The sight of the massive, monstrous Cerebus was the first to confront the souls of the dead when they alighted from the ferryman's boat following their terrifying journey across the River Styx.
In the dominions of Hades there were several main areas:
The imaginary Map of Hades the Underworld provides an overview of the world of the dead.
Map of Hades the Underworld
Charon the Ferryman and the River Acheron The ferryman Charon was also tasked with taking souls across the River Acheron. The Acheron (meaning the river of woe or sorrow) was also known as the River of Pain that flowed from the Styx and believed to carry pains intended for mortals back to earth. It also carried the good souls from the Underworld that were sent back to earth after 1000 years to be reincarnated as mortals.
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Charon
- Charon the Boatman
- Interesting information and Facts about the Greek god Charon
- Charon, the ferryman
- Stories and Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Charon
- Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
- Charon, the ferryman
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Payment to Charon the Ferryman - Charon's ObolThe ferryman Charon would only ferry dead souls across the River Styx if he was paid for the task. Performing the correct funeral rites and death rituals for the dead was therefore essential to ensure the successful passage of souls into the afterlife. The Ancient Greeks therefore included placing a small coin, or obolus, under the tongue of a dead person for this purpose and was referred to as "Charon's obol". An obolus was a small, silver, low-denomination coin of Athens. A single coin buried with the dead and made of gold, silver or bronze was referred to as a danake or as Charon's obol. The coin used to pay Charon for passage across the River Styx was also called a 'naulum' from the Greek word meaning "boat fare". In the ancient death rituals the mouth of the dead was sealed with such a token or talisman and represented the boat fare to pay Charon the ferryman. Charon's obol sometimes took the form of a gold tablet, placed on the lips, that offered instructions for navigating the afterlife and addressing the gods of the underworld. If these conditions had not been fulfilled, the souls were left behind to wander up and down the banks of the River Styx for 100 years as restless spirits.
Picture of Tartarus in Hades the Underworld
Facts about Charon in Greek Mythology
Charon, the ferryman, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Greek Mythology. Discover interesting information and facts about the ferryman. The facts about him provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Charon in Greek Mythology, stories and legends.
Mythical Facts about Charon
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Fact 1: |
The Greek hero Hercules used his great strength to gain passage across the River Styx overpowering Charon with the boatman's own pole.
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| Fact 2: | Hades, the king of the Underworld, punished Charon by binding him in chains for a year
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| Fact 3: | Theseus and Peirithous, theleader of the Lapiths, paid Charon then attempted to abductPersephone
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| Fact 4: | The Argonaut Orpheus tempted Charon with a song when he attempted to rescue his beloved Eurydice (refer to the Myth of Orpheus)
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| Fact 5: | Charon allowed Odysseus passage to consult the dead seer Teiresias
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| Fact 6: | Charon also allowed Aeneas into the Underworld to consult with the souls of the dead
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| Fact 7: | Charon ferried Psyche across the Styx to ask Persephone for a box of precious ointment for Aphrodite (refer to the Myth of Psyche)
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Genealogy and Family of Charon
According to Greek Mythology Charon was the son of Nyx, the dark goddess of Night and Erebus whose province was the Underworld before the emergence of Hades. The brothers and sisters of Charon were all death spirits:
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Hypnos the god of Sleep who also brought nightmares to mortals. The Oneiroi were his sons and gods of dreams, called Morpheus, Icelus, and Phantasos, the cousins of Charon
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Oizys the goddess of distress, anxiety and worry
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Nemesis avenging goddess of Divine Retribution
Charon Family tree & Genealogy - the Children of Nyx
Nyx, the dark goddess of darkness, was the mother of many of the Gods of death and darkness. Some were the result of her union with Erebus, another important god of the infernal region. The family members and genealogy of Charon are detailed in the following family tree, providing an overview of the relationships between Charon and some of the principle Greek gods and goddesses of death and the Underworld.
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